TDN RISING STARS

September 14, 2012 - DONCASTER, Race , Cond, GBP £17,500, 7f, 15.3000

Ashdan (GB), c, 2, 2010 by Dansili (GB)

1st Dam: Bonash (GB) (MGSW-Fr, $139,975), by Rainbow Quest
2nd Dam: Sky Love, by Nijinsky II
3rd Dam: Gangster of Love, by Round Table

Owner: Khalid Abdullah
Breeder: Juddmonte Farms
Trainer: John Gosden

Ashdan, who debuted with an Aug. 10 maiden victory at Newmarket, easily justified 4-5 favoritism in this return to win in taking fashion despite the windy conditions. Lining up in a contest which helped launch such luminaries as Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and Librettist (Danzig), the homebred bay raced without cover off a sedate pace and exhibited impressive acceleration inside the final quarter mile to win going away from the smart No Jet Lag (Johar) by 1 1/2 lengths. "There wasn't much pace and no-one wanted to go on and face a big headwind, but he's done the job really nicely in the end," the owner-breeder's Racing Manager Lord Grimthorpe commented. "He quickened and has shown himself to be a very useful prospect. It's all part of the learning process, so hopefully he can go on from here. We'll see how he is, but we don't want to overdo him this year with next season in mind. He could have one more run in the G2 Royal Lodge S. [at Newmarket Sept. 29] or G1 Dewhurst S. [at Newmarket Oct. 13], or something like that." The winner is a full-brother to Sense of Joy (GB), GSW-Eng; and a half to Day Flight (GB) (Sadler's Wells), MGSW-Eng, GSP-Ger, $502,733. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, £15,422.